British West Indies by W. A. Sweany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 25, 1906

British West Indies

By W. A. Sweany

GRENADA.—Last Sabbath, September 29, was a good day for the “little flock” in St. Patricks. Three men were baptized at seven o’clock in the morning. A large, orderly, and interested assembly witnessed the scene. The other ordinances were celebrated in the afternoon, and the entire day was filled with blessed experiences for us all. Several adults and a large class of youth will be ready for baptism, we hope, by the end of this quarter. Our church-membership is now twenty-six, while our Sabbath-school numbers about sixty.

We began the day-school about two months ago, and it is proving a great blessing. The enrolment is thirty-six, mostly children; but most of the church-members and a good many non-members attend the four evening classes that we hold for the benefit of those who can not attend the day sessions. Men and women who work hard during the day, some of them past middle age, and with large families, attend these evening classes, and the progress they make is truly remarkable. Some who, two months ago, could not read a word, now read fairly well in such books as “Best Stories” and “Gospel Primer,” and will soon be able to read the Bible intelligently, which is the height of their ambition.

Our equipment is the most meager imaginable,—one or two books for a large class, boards on boxes for seats, no maps, blackboards, or other helps, except such as we can make ourselves; but the blessing of God compensates for what we lack, when we do our very best with what we have. We have not yet been able to start our church and school building. We and our people here are truly giving all we can, and are praying, hoping, working, and waiting for sufficient help to enable us to go forward. If we can erect a building and establish the work here, we can do much better and quicker work in the other places that are waiting for the message. Our canvassing has created interests here and there, which should be followed up, but we can not add more to our burdens just now.

We are all well, and of good courage, although our hearts are heavily burdened by the needs of the cause, which our all of time, strength, effort, and means is unable to supply. But somehow and soon, the work will—yea, must—be done; and we mean that it shall then be found that we did our best.

W. A. SWEANY.